Bulldogs appear best chance to throw lifeline to Prismall

Matt Murnane

BRENT PRISMALL could be left without a spot on an AFL list next year, in yet another twist in his rollercoaster off-season.

The former Essendon and Geelong midfielder has trained with three clubs since the end of last season and, at different stages, it appeared almost certain he would continue his career with one of those teams.

But two of those doors are officially closed leading into Tuesday's pre-season and rookie drafts, leaving his latest club - the Western Bulldogs - as his best chance of securing a lifeline.

However, the Dogs have again baulked at guaranteeing Prismall the final position on their list, with the club on Sunday maintaining he was in the last two with VFL journeyman Brett Goodes, brother of Sydney Brownlow medallist Adam.

Goodes, who is also the Dogs' player welfare officer, and Prismall will have a final chance to impress the coaching staff at training on Monday before Jason McCartney and the club's list management team make their decision.

It is still believed Prismall, who lives in Melbourne's inner west and has a relationship with Dogs coach Brendan McCartney having played under him when he was an assistant at Geelong and Essendon, is the front-runner.

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Yet the fact the Dogs haven't publicly committed to him before the draft, as other clubs have to other players, is significant given he reportedly knocked back a one-year deal with Port Adelaide.

Power football manager Peter Rohde confirmed Prismall rejected the offer because the 26-year-old wanted the security of a two-year contract if he was going to move his family to South Australia.

It's understood Port were not prepared to share that commitment partly because they had doubts about his injury history, which includes two knee reconstructions.

Another option for Prismall, who has played 61 games in six seasons after being a second-round draft pick, was the Bombers re-drafting him after delisting him in November.

Coach James Hird vowed to redraft Prismall and the midfielder trained with the Bombers before deciding to try his luck at Port.

That move effectively ended his chances at Essendon, with the Bombers confirming yesterday Prismall was off their radar.

Essendon will only select one of the players who has been training with them recently, and it's understood the choice has been narrowed to three, with West Australian speedster Dayle Garlett, the cousin of Carlton's Jeff, looming as the front-runner despite his widely reported behavioural issues.

Essendon will use its one pick in the rookie draft on Ariel Steinberg.

Eleven clubs will share the 17 selections in Tuesday's pre-season draft, but it seems likely as few as seven or eight of those picks will actually be used as teams opt to hold over spots on their lists for rookies.

Kurt Tippett is the biggest name in the talent pool of delisted and untried players, however it appears highly likely he will get through to Sydney at pick No.11 because of the hefty price tag he has put on his contract terms, reported to be more than $3 million for four years.

Greater Western Sydney have already committed to redrafting veteran ruckman Dean Brogan, but - in a late twist - seem poised to also pounce on former Carlton swingman Bret Thornton with their second selection, instead of Bombers big man Jason Laycock as expected.

Richmond appear set to offer former Geelong ruckman Orren Stephenson another chance, but is likely to do so as a rookie-listed player.

If so, former Collingwood big man Cameron Wood - who has also been training with the Tigers - could go overlooked.